Demon Dynasty

In terms of attack on the ball, body language and influence on the outcome (ie., goal assists, solid passing up the field, contested marks, marks i50) i would say that's the best game i've seen one Mr J Watts play for this club. He has now set a standard. Now for the consistency (with this type of standard as a minimum benchmark). Solid stuff Jacky boy!

Don't think the Pies will get the chocolates Ethan. The loss of Swan & Sidebottom along with a speedster/goal sneak out in Varcoe will leave them very exposed. Even against a fairly decimated Tigers line up. Rance should be able to hold Cloke to say 2 or 3 max (hasn't kicked more than 2 goals in last 7 or so) and then it's just a matter of shutting down their smaller brigade up forward. Can't see how the Pies can kick a winning score. Whereas the Tiges still have 2 decent avenues to goal in Vickory (one trick poney but can mark/kick a few and bring ball to ground for their crumbers) and Reiwoldt of course.

Agreed. He will quickly cement his place in the 22 once he has had a fair run at it with some consistent time on field (ie., enough games under his belt and a decent tank). Brayshaw has sublime skills, combine this with decent agility and the ability to create time and space both for himself and those around him. A great gift to have in today's game where it is often dominated by super athletes who can play a tad. Brayshaw can also tackle like a bull as we have all witnessed. Much to learn and no world beater but defintely in our top 22. Had him ranked at 17 in 2015 based on (weighted) selection of average stats last year up to Rnd 17. The top 5 in those averages were Vince, Jones, Cross, Garland and TMac in that order.

C'mon Stuie stop exaggerating. There was usually a good hearty home made soup by one of the mums/volunteers on offer as an alternative to sausages And what the hec's wrong with the bat anyways

SW i think we might be have to wait at least another 2 decades before seeing such match ups! Hey i thought i saw Old Dee in the crowd straight after the first goal by Jeffy yesterday (1:30 left on the clock in the first quarter. Look for OD fist pumping!). Anyone heard from OD lately? Maybe he's still recovering from our improved form

Agree his handball decision making is AFL level when in congestion. It's what he does/doesn't do and how much time he takes to decide to do it when out in the open a little and having to kick which is letting himself down. Along with his pedestrian speed over the turf. Cant compare Frost (not a mid fielder ...half as many games) and Oscar (again not a mid fielder and 3 games) to Dom (mid fielder with 50 games ...same as Viney). You can cover pedestrian speed issues a little if you are super elusive and able to make your own space/time with other sublime agility skills a la G Ablett Jnr, S Mitchell (neither of those pedestrian but referring to their agility which makes the time/space) G Williams (super pedestrian) but i dont see this in Dom's game.....yet. If you read the context again i'm not saying Dom is a basket case as you infer, what i'm saying is, given his time in the system and the problems discussed he is probably borderline (out of the mids) and may be overlooked for Brayshaw once he is available IF (emphasis on IF) he doesn't improve his present weaknesses (decision making in the open/speed of decision making in the open/accuracy by foot). I'm sure Roos/Fd will be working on correcting/improving these issues as we write. I see Dom as more of a Josh Kennedy type than a game busting beast in Priddis. A long way to go before he gets there but hoping he can up the ante from here.

His frustration is a combination of poor delivery at times, being restricted as he at tempts to move off the mark for the lead and not quite knowing or being capable of making separation from bigger/just as agile/stronger opponents (like Davis at this point). The Hulk/Club will hopefully address these in time. Bigger opponents ...can work on this with the assistance of an experienced forward who can show him the way to run patterns/make separation early and lead into space more often. At the moment Jesse often leads his opponent to the ball (without losing him early) hoping his ability/talent/skill at the contest will win the day. This will work some of the time at AFL level but not as much of the time as it may have at VFL/More junior levels. IMO this is where the main frustration lies and we quickly need to get the likes of Derm or Carey down their to show him the tricks of the trade in losing his opponent much earlier before leading and where to lead to/other patterns/hard work required to get the pill/u contested mark more often. A combinatin of extra strength/agility work in the gym over the next few seasons will see him take it to another level.... subject to the above happening.

I don't think it will ever get back to lowish enough numbers to have the old one on one SW but i like the direction and the result so far. If we can get it down to around 60 it would be great. Each player getting roughly 3 rests plus the quarters and half time. That's about 6 for the match plus stoppages. Seems a good balance. As you say, KB was spot on and deserves major credit for pushing this.

IMO the whole team still don't have the set play for that scenario (whatever it was...apart from stacking) down. They looked dissorganised and confused down back (i saw Watts/Hulk arguing for a while over who should be where just before the bounce). Maybe Big M hit it to the wrong spot. Maybe Jack was in the wrong spot. Maybe we had too many down back vs set play plan. Who knows. Only Roos & Co. and the players would truly know if they got most/all/ or some of it down as per set play instructions/practice.

Have lots of time for Dom but sorry guys from where i sat (and bro), Dom single handedly turned the momentum of the game yesterday with 3 horrendous disposals/decisions within a few minutes at one stage in the 2nd. You could see the confidence boost it gave the Greater Western Circus boys on the resulting turnovers (some in the worst part of the ground down back) shortly after and how much it deflated our blokes from what was mostly a solid performance until then. Within a few minutes he missed a number of open targets within 20/30 meters with little/no pressure and in one instance kicked it directly to an opponent about 15/20 meters away from where his target was and he only needed to kick it about 20 meters (or slightly less) to get it to that target. You can accept multiple horrible kicks from a big ruckman or taller developing guy but not one of your higher draft mids on so many occasions. I would think he is borderline at this point until Brayshaw becomes available or he shows a big improvement. Very slow across the ground and slow at assessing/decision making also. Not unlike Toumpas in this regard, at times allowing opposition to intercept/get to more contests he is kicking to as he tends to telecast his disposals. Nothing instinctive/smart about his footy at this point and looks VFL standard at times. I saw more instinctive/smart footy from our first gamer (Olly) in one half than Dom's entire game yesterday.

So basically he is a pretty bog ordinary kick & poor decision maker then. That's a pretty ugly combo at AFL level i would have thought. I agree he needs a good stint downstairs to clean things up but not until someone better is available (Brayshaw) There isn't really an obvious ideal alternative to give Big M a chop out apart from Spencil who isn't available and IMO we cant afford two big fellas in at the same time. Not sure why Roos/FD use Pedo while Big M is being rested as Pedo has no impact and we usually bleed clearances when he is in the middle. Might be worth trying Frost as he has a height advantage over Pedo and Dawes (marginal) but seems to have a reasonable leap compared to those two also. Seems like the only alternative who can also play forward

Dean was awesome mate. Should have included in my best on reflection just ahead of Big M. That goal in the 3rd was invaluable and he broke free from many contests selecting solid options up the field. Room for improvement but progressing nicely.

Spot on Rocky. I noticed many of his disposals where shortish chips rather than trying to find 30 - 50 meter type targets where he seems very suspect by foot. Either he clicked on this or the FD had him working on it (or both) as he was much more improved on his short disposal game (by foot) in this match. Can't recall a play wher ehe cost us an ugly turnover for the rebound goal as per some of his past work. Needs to work on his awareness further as he seem to have a (limited) lateral view of his options as soon as he takes off. Would love to see him look up the corridor as his first option! Lateral after

Agree on the first 3 BR. I would persist with Frost though as he is reasonably athletic and as we saw in the 3rd quarter at one point with his amazing chase down from a LONG way behind, has a decent turn of speed. Outside of Jeffy, Antman (Kennedy), Viney, Watts (for his size), Harmes and Kent we are severely lacking in this dept. Can see Frost playing a similar style/role of game to Blizavs. FDs are crying out for the taller, more mobile/quickish player like this to play multiple roles. I would stick with the ice man for this reason, provided he gives a decent show/contest. Like everyone in the team, he should earn his stripes each week. Will need more than 66%* game time (and one match) to see where he's at. Of the first 3 players mentioned, the most disappointing for mine is Tyson given how long he's been in the system (NAB Cup also not amazing form IMO). Is pedestrian slow and so is his decision making when he gets the ball, which isn't often enough. His decision making in terms of which option he chooses to kick to is often horrid also. He would be first cab off the rank as soon as we have a fit Brayshaw IMO ....but not until then as there's really no one better to come in straight away (from the coach/FD chatter you hear anyways ... which usually has a bit of club spin attached to it i realise). Although i have my fingers crossed about Petracca coming in by round 3. If Brayshaw is back by then then then we have 2 certain ins for Tyson/Bugg. I tend to look away when Harmes gets the pill but he does show glimpses of potential and can find space at times. Also seems to put himself in a decent positions. Didn't get enough of the pill today (only 8 disposals/very low % on ground time though) but disposal efficiency in today's game was right up there (7th best @ 87.5%).

6. Viney 5. Watts 4. Kennedy 3. TMac 2. Oliver 1. Big M

Viney, Kennedy, Watts, Maxey, T-Mac up there. No Major Issues on the bench. For his first game Oliver was fanbloodytastic. Put one or 2 seniors to shame (Tyson.... ughh). Not finals worthy...yet. Check In again about Rnd 6 !

Viney, Kennedy, Watts, Maxey, T-Mac up there. No Major Issues on the bench. For his first game Oliver was fanbloodytastic. Put one or 2 seniors to shame (Tyson.... ughh). Not finals worthy...yet. Check In again about Rnd 6 !

Thanks for link Jack. Good article on how some of our NQRs (Injury wise) are going . Trenners even mentions the progress of Petracca. Says he's putting his best "foot" forward. Surely he means "Toe"?

And what's wrong with a good stoning?

Rjay who is that woman in your profile pic? Has she been tested?

I see my Clen reference (attempt at humor) didnt make the cut. Wasnt that bad was it admins?

Dunn at his very best Is a mile ahead of Oscar at this point. This should be so of course given the stages they are at In their careers. Not Saying Oscar doesnt have the talent to surpass Dunny but at this point pretty sure Roos/FD wld play a fit/healthy Lynden over Oscar assuming a choice had to be made between the 2

Lead backline superbly under severe fire last few years with a drop off (along with many others) in last part of 2015. May be hitting a flat spot and need a bit of a recharge. Injury wouldn't have helped but wasn't in the greatest form prior to that, albeit only NAB cup. Hope to see him back to his best with 2 to 3 AFL games under his belt. If TMac and Garlo can offer decent support and clean up their acts in a few critical aspects of their game (not new problems for either player and were evident again in their last match against StKilda) it would be a huge help to his confidence and take the pressure off mentally a little which might also help with his general enthusiasm/attitude and enjoyment of the game. Might not hurt to allow him to rest up forward occasionally while Dawes is out as well to offer a different look for our opponents and kick occasional goal from around 50 (not saying he should play this role consistently ....just occasionally as a change up, might freshen him up also). I expect Dunny (brush) will once again be cleaning the bowl with most of his opponents in a few weeks time.

Lots of blue sky hype on D'land of late. RPFC reckon you may have had one too many easter eggs already mate! Sure hope we win on Saturday fellas otherwise there'll be a few hot cross bunnies around here

Nice stuff City Mooney is one commentator that gets Roosy's style and grand plan. Has said that defence is the hardest thing to teach a bunch of younger players but that it has to be taught if the group is to work as a complete defensive unit (forwards included) and cover for each other when things don't go their way. He believed this would have been the focus in the first year or so until it was drilled into them. Reckons most players who come into the AFL know how to run forward and attack but most are pretty poor at defending and it doesn't come naturally as it's not something they have trained for in their junior teams. Basically this is what he believed Roos has been focusing on and fine tuning the last few years (with the resulting ugly results on the park and scoreboard) and that he has now flicked the switch, allowing the players some rope to run and carry and attack. For those who aren't already aware, Moons can be heard on 1116 SEN if interested (can't recall the exact day but pretty sure he does a short review of the weekends matches on Monday mornings around 10/11...maybe Tuesdays).